Special reports and a draft plan for make up days were presented at the Tuesday, Oct. 9 Dare County Board of Education meeting.

Superintendent John Farrelly presented a draft plan to make up missed school days caused by Hurricane Florence. Now, Tropical Storm Michael has added another missed day to the total as Dare Schools were closed Friday due to flooding.

The initial draft plan kept Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks as planned and avoided Saturday school. Four early dismissal days became full days as did two optional workdays. The end of the semester was moved.

Staff will now re-examine the calendar to find an additional instructional time.

At the meeting, the board received two special reports.

Dare County Schools now offers all permanent employees an employee assistance program. The program offers free, confidential support and resources to address personal or work-related challenges and concerns. The program covers household members.

The work-life services category includes legal, financial and wellness services along with consultation and online resources library.

The program is operated McLaughlin Young, Charlotte. The cost of the program for all permanent employees is $15,000 or $1.57 per employee. John Donlan, Dare Schools Director of Human Resources, presented program information to the board.

An extensive report was delivered about the growing collaboration between Dare County Schools and College of The Albemarle.

Two programs were explained by Assistant Superintendent Arty Tillett.

This June, 12 student trailblazers will graduate first from College of The Albemarle and walk across the stage at their local high school. Under the program, students take high school courses in middle school, freeing up course time to take college courses in junior and senior years. This program does not take an extra year to complete like Early College and students can stay at their home school. College course work is free and the courses transfer to one of the state’s four-year universities.

The second program is a Career and Technical Education Dual Enrollment partnership. Under the program, students take college courses and participate in relevant local trades and industry. The great example is the partnership between the college and the North Carolina Ferry System.

At the shipyard in Manns Harbor, the ferry system needs welders. The college has a welding program. Students in the program become apprentices at the shipyard, earning a salary while learning a trade.

Currently, 60 Dare students are participating in an internship program. Other programs available are HVAC and early childhood education. A hospitality and tourism program was recently approved for a dual enrollment.

The college’s Dare Campus Dean Timothy Sweeney is working on courses offering marine diesel repair, small engine repair and carpet and tile installers.

The Dare Board of Education approved on first reading a revised policy on parent involvement and a new policy on parent and family engagement for Title I. Originally, the two policies were together. The first reading action was required to remain in compliance with federal rules.

The board accepted the $438,360 bid from Southeastern Mechanical, Inc., for the replacement of two chillers at First Flight Middle School. Four bids were received. Southeastern’s was $100,000 under budget.

The board accepted three donations:

• Kitty Hawk Elementary’s PTA donated $30,000 for supplemental instructional supplies and cultural events.
• A donation of 500 CDs to the First Flight High School band department. The CDs are valued at $7,500.
• Property at 104 Arbor Drive, Manteo, valued at $61,400, from Earl Meekins Enterprises.

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